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Monte Sano Nature Preserve (Oak Park Trailhead)
4.8 ★★★★★ 31 Google reviews · Running trail in Huntsville, Alabama · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Mixed
- Loop distance
- 16.5 mi
- Shape
- Loop
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Monte Sano Nature Preserve (Oak Park Trailhead)'s own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
What runners say about Monte Sano Nature Preserve (Oak Park Trailhead)
Very well maintained trail which wraps its way from the bottom of the mountain (walk through the park in Oak Park; the trailhead is just beyond the public restrooms and outer fence of the park) all the way to the top for some excellent foliage and rock views. It's about 95% shaded.
Oak Park trailhead is a great place to hike, run or ride your mountain bike. Very smooth trails, the only difficult part is most of it is uphill. But once you turn around, you'll get a nice downhill back to the parking lot.
This is a beautiful trail system which winds its way up to Bankhead pkway.
Well marked trails and always a great day to be in nature on Monte Sano
Trail conditions & character
“This is a beautiful trail system which winds its way up to Bankhead pkway.”
“Oak Park trailhead is a great place to hike, run or ride your mountain bike.”
“Very smooth trails, the only difficult part is most of it is uphill.”
“It's an out and back, but if you connect to Buzzard's Roost and then Dallas Branch and Bankhead Trails, it becomes a nice 3 mile loop.”
Plan your run at Monte Sano Nature Preserve (Oak Park Trailhead)
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- SurfaceMixed — more than one surface along the route, so check the segment you plan to run
- Loop distance16.5 mi back to where you parked. Long enough for a real long run.
- ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
- At the trailheadparking — reported by runners
- Trail mapOfficial trail map
- Websitelandtrustnal.org
- Phone+1 256-534-5263
- Social Instagram · Facebook
Hours
| Monday | 7 am–7 pm |
| Tuesday | 7 am–7 pm |
| Wednesday | 7 am–7 pm |
| Thursday | 7 am–7 pm |
| Friday | 7 am–7 pm |
| Saturday | 7 am–7 pm |
| Sunday | 7 am–7 pm |
Running trails near Huntsville
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
Monte Sano Nature Preserve (Bankhead Trailhead)
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Expansive preserve featuring 25+ miles of trails, scenic waterfalls, bluff vistas, springs & caves.
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